Signs of Heat Stroke in Dog

Signs of heat stroke in a dog are very easy to spot. There are several signs that your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion. Heat stroke in dogs usually occur when they get too hot or do not get enough sleep or rest. This article discusses the signs of heatstroke and what you can do to help your dog cool down before it gets worse.

The signs of heat exhaustion in dogs begin when they start to get too hot. They will either get out of the car to cool down or in too much sweat. For example, one of my dogs would constantly come in from outside and sit down in the car before getting in the house. He was fine until it got very hot out and he began to shake.

When he did this, I picked him up and placed him in my lap. He started to whine and rub his belly and head. I knew that he was suffering from heat stroke so I took him to the vet right away. He prescribed a coolant and cleared his air passages. He returned home a week later but was miserable and lethargic. He was only willing to eat canned food and had lost most of his energy.

Signs of heat stroke in a dog can also appear when you do not provide them with enough water. Dehydration is a common side effect of being out in high temperatures without drinking enough water. Dogs are built to survive in hot temperatures so they do not require a lot of water to stay cool. Your dog may have diarrhea if you do not give him the proper amount of water to drink but a simple formula for dehydration is: The amount of liquid you lose equals the amount of time it takes to replace that liquid. Are usually visible very early on, especially in dogs that are left out in the cold. They begin to shiver uncontrollably and may collapse in some cases. If you notice your dog becomes lethargic and not eating or drinking then it is very possible that he has contracted heat exhaustion. It is important to give your dog something to drink until the symptoms subside. Once he has been treated and has recovered, you will be able to determine if he has developed signs of heat exhaustion or another illness.

Heat exhaustion in dogs is very similar to heat stroke in humans where the body temperature begins to rise as the body sweats. Like humans, it is important to keep your pet cool by providing them with water and providing a cool place to rest. Dogs that contract heat stroke are more susceptible to infections and can suffer brain damage or death. Because dogs’ bodies contain just one type of sweat gland (pituitary gland) it is much easier to identify if your dog has contracted this condition than it is to diagnose human heat exhaustion.

The symptoms of heat stroke in dogs include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, loss of consciousness, convulsions, failure to drink or eat and diarrhea. Signs of heat stroke in dogs may also include swelling of the face and around the genitals, dark urine, dehydration, and excessive licking of the genitals. Your pet may also begin to shiver as well as take water with a vomiting tendency. When dog heat exhaustion reaches a critical level, your dog will start to limp, lose strength in his muscles, and start to lose weight rapidly.

You need to be alert to any signs of heat stroke in your pet so that you can treat them early and possibly save their life. One of the best signs of heat exhaustion is when your dog begins to get extremely lethargic. He will either refuse to eat or will consume small amounts of food but won’t drink enough water. An easy way to check for signs of heatstroke in your dog is to place him down in a cool place like the couch or table, but be sure to have someone else there in case he gets too weak or exhibits any of the early warning signs of heatstroke.

Other signs of heat exhaustion in dogs include swollen legs. Many dogs will show signs of overheating just by standing or walking around without any form of shade or relief from the heat. When dogs get overheated, they will usually lick their paws in an attempt to cool themselves down. However, licking the paws also leads to overheating of the skin, which can lead to severe skin diseases such as contact dermatitis. When a dog suffers from excessive licking of the paws, he may not be able to control his body temperature so he will try and shiver to cool down. A dog with shivering tendencies should be taken to a vet right away because of the serious implications of overheating.

If you are at work and find that your dogs are acting funny or are acting out of character, take them straight to the nearest vet. Many dogs can sense when their body temperatures have gone too high and will act out of character in order to try and cool down. This is why it’s so important to keep an eye on your dog’s body temperatures during the day and at night so you don’t end up surprising him with sudden hyperthermia. Dogs are very sensitive to changes in body temperature, so if you notice your dog’s body is not responding to the same temperature he was last week or the day before, make sure you take him straight to the vet. It could be a sign of heat stroke in dogs. Heat stroke in dogs is a serious condition and can lead to death if not treated quickly.